TRELAWNY, Jamaica — Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has revealed that some $94 million has been spent on improvement works at the Falmouth Public General Hospital over the last five years.

The work included the refurbishment of two operating theatres which attracted a price tag of $45 million and the upgrade of the walkway at the facility at a cost of roughly $49 million.

“So you talking about $100 million worth of expenditure here at the institution. So, I just want to use the opportunity, having come see this to thank the team for the work. We did promise improvement in the institution and you are seeing those improvements and hopefully both the staff morale and the patients will be happy for that,” Dr Tufton said.

He also disclosed that over the last five years the bed count at the Type C hospital has increased by nearly two folds.

“A lot of work has been taking place to upgrade the hospital.  A couple of things that are worth noting: five years ago, the Falmouth hospital was less than 100 beds. Today Falmouth hospital is over 170 beds with 40 of those beds of course dedicated to Cornwall Regional Hospital,” Tufton said.

“But for all intents and purposes we have doubled the bed capacity at the institution. And that’s a positive and we must celebrate that and feel happy about that because the parish deserves it,” he added.

But the Health and Wellness Minister noted that there is still some work to be done at the facility.

“I have noticed a couple of things which I am going to encourage the management to look at,” he said.

He was touring the Falmouth hospital on Friday where he also met with the vector management team.